electrochemical series

Also called electromotive series, a sequence of elements
(chiefly metals) listed in order of their
standard redox potentials –
i.e., the potential developed by an electrode
of the element immersed in a molar solution (see mole)
of one of its salts (see electrochemistry).
The series starts with the metal that tends to lose the most electrons in
reactions. A standard hydrogen electrode is arbitrarily assigned an oxidation
potential of zero, so that the metals can be compared. Those that lose electrons
more readily than hydrogen are termed electropositive;
those that lose electrons less readily are called electronegative
(see electronegativity). Metals
high in the series are generally more reactive than those lower down, and
displace them from aqueous solutions of their salts. The order of some common
metals in the electromotive series is: lithium, potassium, calcium, sodium,
magnesium, aluminum, zinc, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, tin, lead, hydrogen,
copper, mercury, silver, platinum, and gold. See also ionization
potential.